Red-Lined racing stalks Toyota
The Red-Lined Nissan racing team will rely on experienced drivers, navigators and fast cars in order to conquer the indomitable Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) team this weekend.
Reliability and professional technical team gives the globe-trotting Red-Lined Nissan confidence team the much needed confidence ahead of the Desert Race. This week the South African based glamour team fielded questions from Sun Sports reporter ISAAC PHEKO.
Which category is the Red-Lined Nissan team competing in during the 2018 1000km Toyota Desert Race?
FIA Class with three cars.
What are the targets set for the Redlined Nissan team in both the SACCS and the Toyota 1000 km Desert Race?
As we are more focused on our international campaigns we do not compete in all the SACCS events and as such do not have any targets within this championship but just generally use these events to test and develop our race cars. With regards to the 1000km Toyota Desert Race, first and foremost we want all three cars to finish with one of our cars on the podium, and then more importantly we want to win the Dakar Challenge.
How will winning Toyota 1000 km race influence your 2018 campaign?
It won’t influence our 2018 campaign but will contribute towards our 2019 Dakar plans.
Toyota has dominated the 1000 km Desert Race for close to four years. What will it take to beat the big and well-resourced factory team in the Desert Race and the SACCS?
A significant amount of money and resources together with professional drivers just like Toyota has.
Which other racing classes is the Red-Lined Nissan team competing in the SACCS? FIA Class only.
Is the Redlined Nissan team expected to compete in the 2019 Dakar Rally next year? We will be entering one car in the 2019 Dakar.
Has the Red-Lined Nissan competed Dakar in the past?
Yes, we have had six of our proudly South African race cars compete in the Dakar with five of these cars successfully completing the event.
Where is the Red-Lined Nissan racing car built?
In our premises in Kyalami, Johannesburg.
What edge do you have over your competitors in the SACCS and the 1000 km Desert Race?
We have experienced drivers and navigators together with a good reliable car and a strong and professional technical team.
How is will Red-Lined Nissan team interact with local car dealers, mechanics and other technicians when you compete in Botswana?
We open up our pit set up and hospitality areas to the Nissan dealers and their customers within Botswana.
Please share with us the specs of the Red-Lined Nissan racing car.
Engine: Nissan vk50 (v8 normally aspirated)
Gearbox: Sadev 6 speed sequential
Management System: motec 100 series
Suspension: Donerre
Fuel Capacity: 480 litres
Weight: 1890kg
Feel free to provide any further information on the team.
303 – Shameer Variawa and Zaheer Bodhanya
304 – Terence Marsh and Riaan Greyling
313 – Maik Willems and Rob van Pelt (international team from Holland)